Tuesday, August 14th
… Bobby had a CAT scan and lumbar puncture today and it turns out he needs another surgery tonight to clear out a pocket of infection on his right frontal lobe. This surgery is more straightforward and not as extensive, but please send the strongest waves of healing vibes and prayers towards Bobby.

Wednesday, August 15th
... The surgery went well, it didn't take long at all and Bobby is recovering! More soon. Faith and ‘Team Bobby’.

Monday August 27th
Steve and Jeff Bechtel and Peter Mallamo just returned from a visit to see Bobby. They found him in the best of circumstances. Here is an encouraging excerpt from Peter as posted on Supertopo. Read the rest of his message and other postings at:
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=39501>>>>> .

“Now, having seen for myself, I tell you all that our friend is very much here with us. When we arrived Friday he was still pretty sedated but the staff was slowly weaning him off those particular meds. Still though there were moments that his left eye was wide open (his right eyelid was closed due to the injury but his eye underneath moves and his right lid blinks in unison with the left which is a good thing) and there was no doubt in my mind that he was aware and looking right at us, from one of us to the other. When Jeff walked in the room there was even a little smile on Bobby's face. It felt so good to see that recognition. Yesterday was the same way, with moments like the day before that convinced me even more that Bobby was slowly coming around.”

Tuesday, August 28th
… I'm happy to report that Bobby really seems to be finding his place in the drivers seat of his recovery and has been making encouraging strides this past week. Not only has he been essentially infection free since his last surgery, but he is showing increasing signs of alertness--showing two fingers on command several times in a row and on different occasions--that have brought all of us (including docs and nurses) to rowdy cheers of support. Although he is resting a great deal--which is so important--he is also in the best shape he's been in since the accident and I believe he is on the high road to recovery.

… as ever, we are soo incredibly grateful for your enormous support and faith throughout these past few months. I don't know what we would have done without all of you... With thanks and love always,

Faith

Skip, Thanks for the updates. Great to hear Bobby is showing positive signs that he is on the road back to recovery.

GREAT NEWS .... Bobby is staging for a move to Craig Hospital in Denver . He IS on the mend, slowly but surely. The move should happen within a week or so. GO BOBBY.
SH, Chamonix.

Skip, thanks for the update. I'm thinking that this must be good news and that Bobby is progressing along well. Please let us know once he has arrived in Denver. Will visitors be allowed?

John

Good to hear he will be set-up in Craig. top notch place; my uncle was there after a skiing accident. I'm sure they will probably end up meeting each other, my uncle still participates @ Craig quite frequently & they have some sort of talent fest to look forward to!

Best wishes to Bobby.

My hats off to Craig -- my uncle might not be alive & well were it not for everyone. (& Mary Jane/Winter Park Patrol)

Monday October 1st
Bobby underwent ‘preparatory’ surgery (prior to his move to Denver), placing shunts/drains into the lateral ventricles to ease pressure on his brain… it went well. However...
... “it doesn't look like we'll be going to Denver this week as they noticed a small post-op collection of fluid underneath Bobby's skull that they want to monitor and if need be removed. This is really not uncommon and they just want to ensure that the fluid dynamics in his brain are as should be. Many many thanks to all for the tremendous support. Again, I'll keep you all posted as plans evolve.

With love, Faith"
(SH,Paris)

.... Bobby's recent CT scan showed great improvement in the fluid collection ... He is reabsorbing it on his own and at this point, there is no need for additional surgery.
Very positive news! Bobby was really perking up last weekend, but recently came down with a mild pneumonia and he's currently resting and recovering ... the infection has definitely subsided and he has been able to beat this much faster than in the past. Really, he just needs to start moving again... and he will soon enough. We're still on track for Denver as soon as Bobby has fully recovered. If all goes well, this could be within the next couple of weeks... We will keep you all posted!
Wishing everyone all the best!
Love and thanks,
Faith

Thanks for the update Skip. I"m looking forward to visiting one of these days soon with a heap of mags and mp.com stickers....

Let me know if you need a place to stay in Denver, I live in LIttleton and have a spare room.

Tuesday, October 16th
WE'RE HEADED TO DENVER! The doctors all enthusiastically agreed that Bobby has recovered incredibly well and that the most important thing for him is to get out of the hospital and into rehab. So, over the last 24 hours we've been busy with departure plans and it looks like my mom and Bobby will fly to Denver TOMORROW morning - Wednesday by medical ambulance (non-stop flight) and I will follow on Thursday after tying up all loose ends here. Bobby will initially be at KINDRED HOSPITAL (the facility that is similar to sub-acute rehab) prior to CRAIG HOSPITAL.

Your continued thoughts and prayers and powerful healing vibes are clearly working!! Bobby's nurse mentioned this morning that he had been sleeping with an easy smile on his face all night--perhaps dreaming of crisp mountain air, the aspen leaves changing to yellow, friends, laughter and probably a cold beer. You all are beyond extraordinary and have been a support beyond what we ever imagined possible. So THANK YOU ALL!!

Ever forward. Will inform all of contact information soon.

With love and gratitude,

Faith

Thanks for the update and all the best for the move. You can see the snow on the front range from Craig Hospital!

faith, im so glad to know that bobby is goin to colorado. if you need anythin, keep us informed. love you and bobby lots, luv, Shondell

Thursday, October 25th
Dear All,
... Denver is proving itself rather quickly to be the "right" place for Bobby! He has settled in incredibly well and we are all so happy with Kindred Hospital, where Bobby will be until he's ready for Craig. The days are very structured with alternating periods of high activity and rest, which makes much sense. The doctors, nurses and therapists at Kindred have been fantastic, blending meticulous and thoughtful care with a relaxed and easy feel (and Bobby has a great room with a view to lots of trees). The most exciting news is that Bobby has been able to respond with all sorts of different hand signals to commands! AND he went outside and will be able to do so frequently.

Visitors are really appreciated, BUT we're also still trying to fine tune Bobby's schedule and routine, so please do let us know beforehand if you're going to come by so we can figure out the best timing. Please Email or phone. My cell is: 303-883-6734 and my mom's is: 307-899-1586. Additionally: It is best to have only 1-2 people at a time with Bobby and when he looks like he is getting tired, it's important to let him rest.

Many, many thanks to all of you for your phenomenal support, which continues to carry us all through - and look how far Bobby has come!

Lots of love always,

Faith

Thursday, Nov 1st
Dear All,

First off, thanks again to everyone for the steady stream of incredible support! Our gratitude is infinite.

Bobby continues to do well at Kindred and and has gotten a few days of real sunshine! Progress is steady and all is well.

We recently had an important discussion with some of the staff at Kindred about the visiting schedule/protocol for Bobby. We have all (including Bobby) been touched by the support and the company, but there is a concern that Bobby may be getting over-stimulated at times, which can be counterproductive in the recovery process. Because of this, we need to better regulate visiting hours and there may be days where we will have to restrict visitors depending on how Bobby is doing. This is such a critical time for Bobby in terms of healing and while we can see that he is eager to engage and move forward, his physical body also needs time to build strength so that it can support his cognitive recovery. This is a difficult and sensitive balance because being with friends and family is also a very crucial part of the healing process. So please bear with us as we navigate through this so that all is aligned with Bobby's highest good.

The most important thing we ask is to please call my mom (307) 899-1586 or me (303) 883-6734 before stopping by and we will figure out the best timing for everyone. Popping in is hard on Bobby as he has a very routinized day and it's important to maintain the structure.

** PLEASE NOTE: The visits should be roughly 30 minutes (...or less), but if Bobby appears tired OR a little too wide-eyed, then the visits need to be cut short.

Because of Bobby's history of pneumonia, it's also important to wash or sanitize hands and wear gloves, which are located at the door.

Thanks to everyone for being so understanding and patient! You're all a huge blessing.

With love,

Faith

As Thanksgiving approaches, I … want you to know that we send thanks and love to all of you every day. And I am ever grateful to my brother for being so strong in this journey; he is an inspiration.

… Bobby is doing so well and we anticipate a move to Craig Hospital sometime next week. He is communicating well with his right hand and is using all sorts of hand signals, clicking carabineers, playing with bouldering holds and basically anything he can get his hand on. His left arm is weak, but he is beginning to move it a bit more every day (and the team at Craig will work on this as well). An evaluating nurse from Craig arrived at Kindred on Friday and asked Bobby if he felt he was ready for Craig and he immediately gave her a thumbs up! The news is all tremendously encouraging and I think we're all ready for this transition.

… Because of the transition to Craig, the visiting protocol is a little up in the air, but just call my mom (307-899-1586) and I will also keep everyone posted.

Happy happy Thanksgiving and thank you, thank you. Faith

GO BOBBY!!

That's great news! thanks for the updates.

I am sure that he already is getting this, but just in case he is not: Research has highlighted the importance of Omega 3 oils in healing from brain injuries. Rda is about 2 grams/day, but for someone healing 15 grams/day.
Carlson or Nordic Naturals are good, safe sources of fish oil high in Omega 3s. Bulk oil instead of capsules is the best buy.

Read the following article about the survivor of a coal mine accident:




Omega 3 Fish Oil - The JELIS Study
James L. Holly M.D.
April 27, 2006
Your Life Your Heath - The Examiner




The recent return home of the only survivor of the Sago mine disaster, Randall McCloy Jr., seems miraculous and it was. Yet, there is a sound basis for his recovery. McCloy, who had suffered heart, kidney, and liver failure in addition to brain failure, returned home less than four months after the mining disaster. One of the principle reasons for this recover was Dr. Bailes’ administering of very high doses of Omega 3 Fish Oil to McCloy.

McCloy received (and continues to take) 15 grams per day of EPA and DHA. Although a seemingly extraordinarily high dose, McCloy’s blood levels of these fatty acids were constantly monitored to maintain them within a therapeutic zone to maximize the reduction of systemic inflammation without compromising the body’s ability to fight infection.

The implications of Randall McCloy’s remarkable recovery have widespread medical importance, not only for brain trauma patients, but also for any patient with neurological disorders. It has been demonstrated by Harvard Medical School that high-dose fish oil has significant benefits in treating bipolar depression, and a recent study demonstrated the same levels used by Dr. Bailes in treating Randall McCloy also demonstrated significant improvement in children with ADHD. Maybe this is why our grandmother called fish oil "brain food."

JELIS Study

Wednesday, Dec 12th

.... Bobby continues to progress, although he still isn't at Craig as he was delayed by a pressure ulcer, which is now very much on the mend. So, we are still at Kindred Hospital, but anticipate a move to Craig in the near future--perhaps a Christmas present :-).

The visitor protocol at Kindred remains 1-2 visitors a day for a short period of time only (max 30 minutes). We have recently worked out a system with Kindred that will work for both the hospital and our family. If you want to visit, please call myself, my mom or my dad and we will give you a password to give to the front desk. This is a system that Kindred recommends and we're going to give it try. And again, our phone numbers are as follows:

Faith: 303-883-6734
Anne: 307-899-1586
Bob: 307-899-0040

And most of all, continual thanks to everyone for the constant stream of support! As ever, we are tremendously grateful.

With love,

Faith

Dear All,

I sincerely wish all of you--and everyone everywhere--a 2008 that is
fulfilling in all ways. And I also wish everyone fun and joy as much as possible. Thank you for supporting us through this past year, which has now been put to rest as a fresh year begins. I know that for some of you it's been a painful and difficult year in many ways. I hope that this coming year will bring greater peace, ease and grace into everyone's lives. As for me, I will carry with me the many blessings of friendship, support and true community that you have given all of us.

Bobby is recovering from his surgery (pressure ulcer) and will be on bed rest for another 3 weeks. Unfortunately, it's fairly uncomfortable, but things will only improve over the next few weeks and he is on some powerful pain meds (thank God for that). Thankfully, surgeries are now behind him and once this recovery is complete, rehab will finally begin in full.

Thank you all for holding the space for Bobby's recovery, he is moving ever forward and I look forward to relaying more and more positive news. Your thoughts, words, prayers and hopes are still sooo appreciated and we send them back exponentially to all of you, especially this week.

I'm also sending so much love and comfort to the Rohrbach family, now and always.

With love and gratitude in 2008 and beyond,

Faith

Kristie and I are so glad to hear that Bobby is progressing so well. We're keeping him in our thoughts and hoping for his full and speedy recovery. Thanks for keeping us all informed and best wishes to all of you.

Todd & Kristie

Thanks for the updates.

All the best for a great year for Bobby and Family.

Dear All,

....January was fairly mellow for Bobby as he has been on bed-rest, which is a tough place to be for 5 weeks. BUT this week he is starting to sit up and the therapists will begin to flex his hips. This is a slow process as they want to make sure that the skin flap on Bobby's sacrum stays intact (but it has healed really well). Bobby's rehab doctor--Alan Weintraub--is also dialing down Bobby's shunt, which will help to harmonize the fluid dynamics in his brain. SO--these two things are big big steps on the road to recovery. I will keep you posted as to how this process evolves. But all in all, things are moving forward slowly, but surely!

Many thanks for all the continued support, emails, letters, thoughts and visits! We are--as always--grateful. And Bobby is still feeling all the support very strongly, of that I'm sure.

....I'm just sending our very best to everyone everywhere.

With love and thanks,

Faith

...Things continue to move forward for Bobby at a steady pace with the typical ups and downs, which just seem to be part of the healing equation. The great news is that he's sitting up again and becoming slowly more involved in various therapies. From my perspective (based on Bobby's expressions and other subtleties), it seems like stretching and moving not only feels good, but it's also beginning to stimulate things. He is off all antibiotics and is now only on low doses of pain killers. There is some question about how well his shunt (which keeps the fluid dynamics in his brain harmonized) is working. It's definitely functioning, but they are currently doing a few tests on whether it's working well enough. But in general, we all feel positive about Bobby's progress.

I believe Bobby is in the flow of his healing process and engaging it with as much originality and flavor as he has always lived his life. So, while the ebbs and flows and idiosyncrasies of his recovery confuse some, I imagine this all somehow makes sense to Bobby. I will keep you all posted!

And finally, as always, thank you for the continued stream of support in all the varied ways each of you have shown. We are--as ever--grateful beyond.

With love,

Faith

Bobby, (and Faith, too)
Never a time goes by we don't think of you in Cody...from the morning sun shining off a escarpment, to the newly formed ice walls, to a brass joke that Todd Skinner used to tell...keeps us all alive and aware that life is precious and worth fighting for...God Bless you and keep up the good fight...Dr Jamieson, Cody

Dear All,

.... Bobby is back at Craig and he's in full rehabilitation mode! He has a fancy new room with an expansive west facing window (it's possible to glimpse the mountains through the trees).... They are still in the midst of assessing and getting his schedule fine tuned. But all is well and Bobby is forging right ahead.

Also, if you want to visit, that's great! Just give us a call. Bobby will have a daily routine, so it should be easy to figure out visiting times.

Our phone numbers:

Anne: 307-899-1586
Bob: 646-247-3620
Faith: 303-883-6734

Thank you all for the incredible and continued stream of support!

Sending love and thanks,

Faith